1852 Adelaide Pound Type II NGC AU55
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1852 Adelaide Pound Type II NGC AU55
Australia’s first gold coin – a great rarity
Australia’s first gold coin, the 1852 Adelaide Pound is Gold Rush history you can hold in your hands. Known by approximately 200 examples, this iconic coin is also one of Australia’s greatest rarities. Offered in premium grade, this is a mouthwatering opportunity for you to dine at the head table of Australian numismatics.
South Australia in crisis!
Driven by the immense rarity, demand for the 1852 Adelaide Pound is also attributable to its embodiment of Australia’s golden heritage. Struck from November 1852 until February 1853, the Adelaide Pound was an ‘emergency currency’ issue, conceived and created due to the Gold Rush. After gold was discovered in Victoria in 1851, thousands of South Australians rushed to the eastern goldfields. Those who abandoned the colony in a bid to strike it rich took a massive amount of hard cash with them, and left the fledgling colony on the cusp of financial ruin.
An ingenious solution!
Faced with both a labour shortage and a currency shortage, South Australian authorities came up with a brave, inspired plan. An admirable example of Australian ingenuity, the colony created a new coin to meet the crisis – the Adelaide Pound. Nearly 25,000 examples of the 1852 Adelaide Pound were struck – without British assent, it must be said – and the injection of currency saved the colony from disaster.
Known by approximately 200 examples…
As for the coin itself, the fate of the 1852 Adelaide Pound was ultimately sealed by a spike in the price of gold. At one point, the 1852 Adelaide Pound contained gold worth nearly two shillings above face, and a vast majority of the mintage was naturally melted down for the intrinsic value. As a result, the 1852 Adelaide Pound is known by approximately 200 examples.
Rare in any grade…
Australia’s first gold coin, the 1852 Adelaide Pound is unquestionably rare – irrespective of the grade. Graded by leading independent 3rd party coin verifiers Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) at AU55, this superior example will take your collection to a new level.
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